Donald Trump‘s approval rating has tumbled to a second-term low, according to a new poll. Voters are mostly against his handling of the Iran war and the economy.
Donald Trump’s approval rating sinks to new low amid Iran war
A New York Times/Siena College poll published this week lays bare the political damage the Iran war has inflicted on Donald Trump’s approval rating. Only 37% of voters now approve of the president’s job performance, while 59% disapprove. That leaves him with a net rating of -22 points, his worst showing in the polling since returning to office.
The war itself faces overwhelming public rejection. When asked about the decision to go to war with Iran, 64% of respondents called it wrong. Just 30% said it was the right call. Perhaps more damning, fewer than one in four voters believed the conflict had been worth the human and financial costs.
Republicans, for their part, have not wavered. About 70% of GOP voters backed the decision to go to war, while 22% disagreed. The president still commands loyalty within his base. The question now is whether that loyalty can outweigh the broader discontent.
After all, the coalition opposing the war stretches far beyond Democratic circles. Independents, who often decide close races, rejected the military action by a margin of 73% to 21%. Among Democrats, opposition reached 93%.
On the economy, once Donald Trump’s strongest card, the approval rating shows a bleak picture. The poll found 64% of voters disapprove of his economic management, giving him a net rating of -31 points. Majorities also expressed unhappiness with his handling of immigration, the cost of living, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On each of these, his disapproval figures dwarfed his support.
All in all, as the midterms approach, both parties find themselves in uncomfortable territory. Republicans will need to defend a seemingly unpopular war and a president whose approval appears to be sinking. Democrats have to prove they are more than just the alternative.
